Estoril Moto2: FTR Moto to Portugal

FTR MOTO is looking to add to its 2010 success with the M210 machine when the Moto2 World Championship reaches its 16th and penultimate round at the Estoril circuit in Portugal on Sunday.

FTR is also aiming to take a step towards its target of all four permanent Moto2 riders finishing in the top 10 of the Championship. At present Andrea Iannone sits in third place, two points adrift of second place, his team-mate Gabor Talmacsi is seventh while Alex Debon is 13th and Karel Abraham 15th – the latter just 13 points behind 10th place.

All arrive in Portugal after mixed fortunes in the three-race tour to Japan, Malaysia and Australia. Iannone continued his 2010 Moto2 success with podium finishes in Sepang and Phillip Island on his FIMMCO Speed Up M210.

Debon, on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210, returned to some consistency with top 10 finishes in all three of the Moto2 races with a best of fifth place in Malaysia.

Abraham enjoyed a Moto2 career-best and spectacular finish of third place in Japan on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 and is now aiming to better that result in the final two rounds of 2010 – at Estoril and Valencia – before the Czech Republic rider moves to the MotoGP class in 2011.

Gabor Talmacsi, on the second FIMMCO Speed Up M210 will be looking to recapture his consistency at the 2.597-mile Estoril venue after failing to score in the past three rounds.

Steve Bones (FTR Moto2 Team Manager) says: “We’ve worked with the teams since the last round in Australia and are optimistic that we can get them all into the top 10 of the Championship by Sunday evening in Valencia on November 7.”

“With the improvements to the M210 in recent weeks and the efforts of the teams and riders it’s left us all really looking forward to these final two rounds. The Estoril and Valencia events will also include a lot of talking about 2011 plans.”

“We’ve had interest from around half a dozen teams but we’re also keen to retain the highest level of support and, for that reason, we may well have to limit the number of FTR M211s on the grid.”